The Conditioning Services in Elite Spanish Clubs of Team Sports

Abstract

This study compares the conditioning services of Spanish sports teams: From soccer and basketball professional leagues, and top-division amateur leagues for handball, volleyball, indoor soccer, and field hockey. A survey was administered to those responsible for the conditioning preparation. The response rate was 82% (77 of 94). The teams were divided into class A and class B, with class A having the best performance. Fifty eight percent of the professional teams have hired a full-time person, with university degree, exclusively for the conditioning. The percentage was significantly less in amateur leagues for handball, volleyball, and field hockey: class A teams (41%), class B teams (0%). A small percentage of the Physical Conditioning Coaches (PCCs) continued their academic education (22%), and the consultation of scientific journals (5%). Only 6% of the PCCs did not mention deficiencies in the context of work. The main complaints are associated with the strength-training equipment and facilities. In class B teams of the amateur leagues, significant deficiencies were found in almost all the variables within the training environment. These results show significant deficiencies in the conditioning services offered by teams to their players, especially in no-professional teams and in the teams with lower performance level. Spanish PCCs should take advantage of advances made through scientific research in the area of conditioning by acquiring Master's Degrees and consulting peer-reviewed journals. The club's managers and/or coaches must be aware of the importance of conditioning for improving the training environment. Both aspects would increase the likelihood that better training or rehabilitation procedures would be developed at the club.